Table with hidden collapsing mechanism



A ril 12, 1966 A. WEINBERG TABLE WITH HIDDEN COLLAPSING MECHANISM 2SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 22, 1964 WWW ATTORNEYS.

April 12, 1966 A. WEINBERG TABLE WITH HIDDEN COLLAPSING MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1964 l/VVE/VTO/F ARTHUR WE/NBERG &

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ()ffice Patented Apr. 12, 1966 3,245,364 TABLE WITHHIDDEN CQLLAPSING MECHANISM Arthur Weinberg, Philadelphia, Pa., assignorto Frederic Weinberg Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,771 Claims. (Cl. 108-125)This invention relates to a table with hidden collapsing mechanism andhas as its principal objective the provision of a rigid table that has aunique collapsing mechanism which is hidden from view in ordinary use.The aforesaid collapsible mechanism cooperates with the legs of thetable in such a manner that the assembled table possesses a rigidityapproaching that on non-collapsing tables.

Over the years a variety of collapsible tables have been developed. Manyof these tables operate through the utilization of a collapsible bracehaving one brace end secured to the table frame and the other endsecured to a table leg. These prior tables have generally lackedrigidity in that they possess an undesirable degree of shiftability orplay whenever a force having a sideward component is applied to the topof the table. Further, more, because of the foregoing, collapsibletables with the aforesaid brace arrangement have acquired a reputation,appearance wise, of being weak or lacking in rigidity. For this reason,collapsible tables with the aforesaid brace mechanism sometimes areobjectionable in commercial applications. Instead, non-collapsibletables are utilized to convey the impression of strength. However,collapsible tables afford obvious advantages, and it is therefore anobject of the present invention to provide a collapsible table whichwill possess the rigidity and appearance of non-collapsible tables andyet which may be collapsed in as simple a manner as collapsible tablesheretofore used.

-It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention toprovide a collapsible table which will possess the rigidity of thenon-collapsible tables.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsibletable which is rigid and yet can be simply collapsed in a simple, easymotion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide acollapsible table wherein the collapsing mechanism is completely hiddenfrom view.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved byproviding a collapsible table with a hidden collapsing mechanism whichincludes a shiftable latch arm having a linger which can be seatedwithin the leg of a table in the locked position thereof. The presentinvention contemplates the use of table legs which are preferably hollowand which possess a window in order to permit entry of the shiftable armincluding the finger thereof. When the finger is seated tightly againstthe interior wall of a table leg, the leg will be held in a very rigidposition by virtue of the angle and nature of contact between the seatedfinger and the window edge and corner of the interior wall of the tableleg. Because the aforesaid shi-ftable latch arm is located immediatelybeneath the table surface and extends into the table leg, it is hiddenfrom view by the usual peripheral skirt that extends downwardly from thetable top. For this reason, the collapsible table of the presentinvention has the outward appearance of a non-collapsible table.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible table embodying thepresent invention in the fully open position and showing in phantom oneleg brought to the collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the table of FIG. 1 with alllegs in the fully extended position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail bottom plan view of one cornerof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view partly in section taken along the lines 4-4of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of thenovel collapsing mechanism of the present invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingwherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at'10 in FIG. 1 a table embodying the present invention. The table of FIG.1 has the outward appearance of a non-collapsible table and generallyincludes a table top 12 with legs 14 extending therefrom. A peripheralskirt 16 depends from the table top 1-2 along each of the four sidesthereof. As generally illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the legs 14 arepreferably hollow and are pivotally secured by means of hinges 18 to theundersuI-face 20 of each of the peripheral skirts 16 with cross struts22 being provided for additional rigidity. The legs 14 each have acollapsing mechanism 24 associated therewith and each leg may be pivotedfrom the extended position of FIG. 1 to the collapsed phantom positionof FIG. 1 against a particular undersurface 20. The legs '14 arepreferably of a magnetizable material such as steel so that the legs -14may be each held in the collapsed position by virtue of the provision ofmagnets 26 that are essentially flush with the undersurt'ace 20. Ofcourse, other detachable connections, such as, snap means or latch meansmay be utilized.

As shown in FIG. 7, the collapsing mechanism 24 basically compriseslever 28 for causing shifting of the latch arm 30 with the shiftingmovement of arm being controlled by Uashaped guide 32. The aforesaidcollapsing mechanism is operatively associated with angle bracket 34that is secured to the bottom surface 36 of table top 12.

The attachment and operation of lever 28, latch arm 30, guide 32 andangle bracket 84 with respect to a leg 14 and the bottom surface 36 oftable 10 is shown in considerable detail in FIG. 5. The lever 28basically comprises tabs 38 and 40 which are located in parallel planesthat are connected by integral inclined piece 42. The tab 38 functionsas a grasping handle and the tab 40 has a cam 44 formed thereon with aneccentrically located pin 46 with a threaded end extending therefrom.

The latch arm 30 has an opening 48 formed adjacent one end thereof and afinger 50 extending from the other end thereof. The opening 48 issufiiciently large to receive cam 44 as illustrated in FIG. 5 with theeccentric pin 46 projecting beyond the opposing face of latch arm 30.The eccentricity of the pin 46 accounts for the shiftability of thelatch arm 30 as will be discussed hereinafter. The finger 50 may beseated in a locked position within the leg 14 as shown in full line inFIG. 5.

The unlocked position of the latch arm 30 including the outwardlyextended position of the finger 50 is shown in phantom in FIG. 5. Accessto the interior 52 of a leg 14 is permitted by provision of a window 54in the side 56 of the hollow leg 14. The interior 52 is further definedby side 58 which is parallel to the side 56, and by parallel sides 60and 62. As shown in FIG. 5, the window 54 is formed closely adjacent tocorner 64 which marks the meeting of the sides 56 and 62.

The angle bracket 34 is comprised of perpendicular walls 66 and 68 withthe wall 66 being secured to bottom surface 36 by means of fasteners 70(FIG. The wall 68 of angle bracket 34 possesses a hole 72 which receivesthe threaded end of the pin 46. Thus, pin 46 may be secured in aposition by nut 74 with a lock washer 76 also being provided.

The guide 32 is generally U-shaped and includes legs 78 and 80 extendingfrom bight 82. As indicated in FIG. 4, leg 78 of guide 32 is welded towall 68 of angle bracket 34 adjacent the top thereof with lower leg 36also being welded to the wall 68. The latch arm 30 passes through theguide 32, and thus it is held closely adjacent but some what looselywith respect to the wall 68 so that shifting of the latch arm 30 betweenlocked and unlocked positions may occur.

The assembly of the lever 28, the latch arm 30, and the guide 32 withrespect to the angle bracket 34 is shown in FIG. 5. The lever 28 and thelatch arm 39 are coupled together by locating the cam 44 within opening48 in the latch arm 30 with the latch arm 30 previously having beeninserted within the guide 32. When this is done, the eccentricallylocated pin 46 may be received in hole 72 of angle bracket 34. The pin46 is held in place by means of nut 74 and lock washer 76.

The shifting of the latch arm 30 between the locking 'full line positionof FIG. 5 and the unlocked phantom po sition occurs through themanipulation of the lever 28 between the full line and phantom positionsof FIG. 5. As shown in full line in FIG. 5, the lever 28 in the lockedposition will be in the outwardly extending position. In order to shiftthe latch arm 30 outwardly, it is simply necessary to rotate the lever28 inwardly for 180 to the phantom position of FIG. 5. When this occursthe major portion of cam 44 is no longer located inwardly of the pin 46as shown in FIG. 5 but is now located outwardly of the pin 46. This canoccur only if the latch arm 30 is shifted outwardly to the phantomposition of FIG. 5 and is achieved through the aforesaid eccentricnature of the pin 46.

The finger 50 of the latch arm 30 can be brought to the retractedlocking full line position of FIG. 5 by simply returning the lever 28 toits inward position. When this is done, the finger 50 is tightly seatedagainst the confines of the corner 64 of the interior of the leg 14 andparticularly the combination of the side 62 of the leg 14 and an edgedefining the window 54 shown in FIG. 5. The cam-like locking action ofthe finger 50 causes the leg 14 to be held extremely rigidly in theextended position thereby approaching the rigidity of a non-collapsibleleg.

As soon as the finger 50 is unseated by a manipulation of the lever 28,the leg 14 may be pivoted in the direction of arrows 84 of FIGS. 1, 5and 6 so that the leg 14 will be brought to a collapsed position closelyadjacent the undersurface of the table 10. In this position, the leg 14will come in contact with a magnet 26, and thus the leg 14 will be heldin the collapsed position until it is desired to reassemble the table.This is simply done by bringing the leg to the extended position androtating the lever 28 outwardly in order to seat the finger 50 tightlywithin the interior 52 of the leg 14 and more particularly againstcorner 64, with a camming action being achieved by virtue of the contactbetween finger 50 and side 62, and between the long run 86 (FIG. 5) ofthe latch arm and edge 88 defining in part the window 54.

It is thus seen that the entire collapsing mechanism 24 is locatedclosely adjacent the bottom surface 36 of the table top 12. Furthermore,the latch arm 30 and more particularly the finger thereof extend withinthe leg 14, and thus the entire collapsing mechanism is essentiallyhidden from view by the conventional peripheral skirt 16. Thus, thetable 10 has the outward appearance of a noncollapsible table, and yetit is collapsible. It is also extremely rigid because of the interactionof the A finger 59 of the latch arm 30 and the interior corner 64 of thehollow leg 14, and more particularly the contact; between finger 50 andside 62, and long run 86 and edge 38 defining the window 54.Furthermore, the collapsing or erection of table 10 is achieved with thesimple flip or rotation of the lever 28.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

\Vhat is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a table comprising a table top with top and bottom surfaces, aperipheral skirt adjacent and along each side of said table topdepending from said table top and having an undersurface, and a leg ateach corner of said table, each of said legs being individually hingedto said skirt undersurface, the improvement comprising providing aplurality of individually collapsible mechanisms each associated withone of said legs and located closely ad jacent the undersurface of saidtable top, each said collapsing mechanism including a shiftable latcharm and lever means for driving said latch arm between locked andunlocked positions, said latch arm having a locking finger extendingtherefrom and being adapted to lockingly engage said associated tableleg, whereby each of said table legs may be locked in assembled positionby manipulation of said lever means of said associated mechanism to seatsaid locking finger in locking engagement, and whereby said table legsmay be collapsed by unseating said locking finger through reversemanipulation of said lever means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said table legs has a windowpermitting said latch arm to extend therein with said latch arm beingadapted to be seated in locking engagement with said table leg throughsaid window.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said table legs is hollowwith said window permitting said latch arm to have access to interiorportions of said leg, and said locking finger engaging an edge of saidwindow in the locked position of said latch arm.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said latch arm engages said windowedge adjacent an interior corner of said leg.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said lever means and said latch armare associated together.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said latch arm has a hole andwherein said lever means has a cam which is received in said hole.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said cam has an eccentricallylocated pin extending therefrom.

8. The invention of claim 7 including an angle bracket having first andsecond perpendicular walls, one of said bracket walls being secured tothe bottom surface of said table top and the other of said bracket wallshaving an opening therein receiving said pin.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein a U-shaped guide is secured to saidangle bracket, said guide loosely receiving said latch arm.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein a magnet is associated with saidundersurface on each side of said table top and wherein said legs are ofa magnetizable material whereby said legs are held against saidundersurface when said legs are brought to a collapsed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,780 3/1915Haskell 108-425 1,198,227 9/1916 Hinehey 292251.5 3,093,095 6/1963 Howeet a1 108----13l FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A TABLE COMPRISING A TABLE TOP WITH TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES, APERIPHERAL SKIRT ADJACENT AND ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID TABLE TOPDEPENDING FROM SAID TABLE TOP AND HAVING AN UNDERSURFACE, AND A LEG ATEACH CORNER OF SAID TABLE, EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING INDIVIDUALLY HINGEDTO SAID SKIRT UNDERSURFACE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING PROVIDING APLURALITY OF INDIVIDUALLY COLLAPSIBLE MECHANISMS EACH ASSOCIATED WITHONE OF SAID LEGS AND LOCATED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAIDTABLE TOP, EACH SAID COLLAPSING MECHANISM INCLUDING A SHIFTABLE LATCHARM AND LEVER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID LATCH ARM BETWEEN LOCKED ANDUNLOCKED POSITIONS, SAID LATCH ARM HAVING A LOCKING FINGER EXTENDINGTHEREFROM AND BEING ADAPTED TO LOCKINGLY ENGAGE SAID ASSOCIATED TABLELEG, WHEREBY EACH OF SAID TABLE LEGS MAY BE LOCKED IN ASSEMBLED POSITIONBY MANIPULATION OF SAID LEVER MEANS OF SAID ASSOCIATED MECHANISM TO SEATSAID LOCKING FINGER IN LOCKING ENGAGEMENT, AND WHEREBY SAID TABLE LEGSMAY BE COLLAPSED BY UNSEATING SAID LOCKING FINGER THROUGH REVERSEMANIPULATION OF SAID LEVER MEANS.